Gangs and youth violence are significant problems in our community. Recent Star-Telegram articles (March 4-6, 2010) reported on gang shootings, one in a park and another near an area high school. A May 5, 2010 Mansfield New-Mirror article also highlighted the problem: “Gunshots fired April 19 in South Arlington were a loud and clear signal that gang violence is still a community concern.”
You might ask, “Why do youth join gangs or use violence to resolve conflict?” Experts tell us that gangs replace something that is missing in a youth’s life. The missing elements might include “attention,” “respect” or “love.” When they don’t get these things from caring adults (parents, coaches, school officials, church leaders or other positive role models), they find them from others who are less concerned about their well-being.
If we can help youth be successful in school, they invariably will be successful in other aspects of their lives. This, however, may be easier said than done. Working with high-risk youth requires a coordinated effort. They often need a continuum of services to ensure their success, which may include: mentoring, tutoring, conflict resolution skills, substance abuse education and intervention, child abuse prevention and intervention, parenting skills, medical and dental services, job training and placement, food, shelter and transportation to youth development programs and other needed services.
The YMCA of Arlington is proud to collaborate with the City of Arlington, the City of Mansfield, Tarrant County, Arlington ISD, Mansfield ISD, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Tarrant County, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Boys and Girls Clubs of Arlington, The University of Texas at Arlington, Tarrant County Juvenile Services and Arlington Alliance for Youth in the formation of Our Community, Our Kids, a collaboration whose purpose is to reduce gangs and youth violence and increase support for youth in our community.
If you want to make a difference in the life of a child, take time now to get involved with Our Community, Our Kids by contacting Cynthia Jensen at (817) 548-9595, or cynthia.jensen@unitedwaytarrant.org, or contact me at the Y. Our children need you! Will you answer their call for help?
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Learn to Swim at Any Age
Nearly 50 years ago, when I was about age nine, my older brother and I were learning to swim at a public pool in our hometown, Memphis, Tenn. Tragically, two children drowned at the pool during an open swim period and our parents never let us go back. This was the beginning and the end of my childhood swimming instruction. I later took lessons at the Y and learned to float, swim on my back and meet the requirements for my undergraduate degree; however, I never became a proficient swimmer. Now five decades after my first attempt at learning to swim, I’m back in the water!
I chose to take an adult swim class at the Cooper Street YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of Arlington, not just because the class is complimentary to full-time employees or that the pool is close to my home. I took the class because of my confidence in the Y and our staff to be caring and professional towards me as a beginning swimmer with trepidation about the experience. I had fears such as: Would others in the pool look upon me differently as an older adult learner? Would I look silly in the water? Would I have the physical stamina and coordination needed to kick, stroke and breathe at the same time?
It turned out that my instructor, Lindsey, was caring and very professional. She worked with each student at their own level. She often moved about the pool giving pointers and answering questions. She demonstrated the proper techniques and then offered a critique to help us improve. Lindsey explained the techniques and demonstrated them to help me correct my form. I’m a visual learner and her demonstrations aided me tremendously!
My improved fitness level is a bonus to learning to swim. The aerobic benefit of swimming is well known, however, I’ve benefited also from the exercise of my shoulders and back. Using the water as resistance has helped with my chronic back pain. And, after just one week in the water my weight was down nearly three pounds!
My class met from 8 to 8:50 p.m., Monday through Thursday, for two weeks. By the end of the first week, I had learned to kick and stroke in unison. And, by the end of the second week I could swim about a third the length of the pool. I’m still working on kicking, stroking… and “breathing” together!
When I mentioned to my staff that I was trying to emulate the form of Mark Spitz from the 1972 Olympics, almost no one knew who I was talking about. Finally, a staff member, who is almost a contemporary of mine, said few on the staff were old enough to know who Mark Spitz was. Some had not even been born in 1972! She recommended I reference Michael Phelps, from the 2008 Olympics, for my illustration. I was dating myself, but the point is…you can learn to swim at any age!
In the weeks since my class ended I’ve been to the Y to practice my technique a couple nights per week. I’m still trying to get the breathing down and to improve my endurance. I can swim the length of the pool on my back and about half the length with my face down and breathing about every fourth stroke. I know that with practice I’ll become a more proficient swimmer.
I now know that you can learn to swim at any age. Each year the Y teaches thousands of kids and adults nationwide how to swim and be safe around water. If you or your kids want to learn how to swim, I recommend calling Cory Brazeal, Association Aquatics Director, at (817) 419-9629, or email him at coryb@ymca-arlington.org.
I set five personal goals when I was in my early 50s: 1) earn a doctorate, 2) earn a black belt, 3) become a better swimmer, 4) become proficient in Spanish, and 5) improve my guitar skills. The first two goals have been completed and I’m well on my way to becoming a better swimmer. Now as I approach age 60 in seven months, I’ve got to get serious about Spanish and the guitar! Vaya con Dios!
Willie Dean, Ph.D.
President and CEO
YMCA of Arlington
August 23, 2010
Willie Dean, Ph.D.
President and CEO
YMCA of Arlington
August 23, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Exciting Time for the YMCA
With all the talk about brand revitalization, you may be wondering, “Will the YMCA’s mission and values change?” The short answer is no. Our mission, “to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all,” remains intact. Our core values (caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and faith) continue to guide our interactions with one another and the decisions we make. Our new brand strategy and focus will undergird our mission and values and allow us to serve more people and change more lives for the good.
As I said earlier, I see my Y work as more than a job. I feel it is a calling. It allows me to earn a living, to witness my faith and to serve youth, adults and families in our community. With the brand revitalization, the Y will be even more effective in communicating its impact and attracting support for the great work that we do, and I can finally answer the question, “What impact does the Y make?”
The volunteers and staff of the YMCA of Arlington are excited about the brand revitalization. We believe that members, donors and the public will gain a fuller appreciation for the work that we do and the impact that the Y makes. As a result we will be able to serve even more people.
This is a very important, exciting time for the Y. Our commitment to building greater awareness for the important work we do will allow us to expand our efforts and further strengthen communities locally and across the country. More information on the brand revitalization can be found on www.ymca.net. I am excited about our brand revitalization and its potential to help us better communicate the Y’s impact and help us serve more people in our community.
I look forward to seeing you at “the Y!”
As I said earlier, I see my Y work as more than a job. I feel it is a calling. It allows me to earn a living, to witness my faith and to serve youth, adults and families in our community. With the brand revitalization, the Y will be even more effective in communicating its impact and attracting support for the great work that we do, and I can finally answer the question, “What impact does the Y make?”
The volunteers and staff of the YMCA of Arlington are excited about the brand revitalization. We believe that members, donors and the public will gain a fuller appreciation for the work that we do and the impact that the Y makes. As a result we will be able to serve even more people.
This is a very important, exciting time for the Y. Our commitment to building greater awareness for the important work we do will allow us to expand our efforts and further strengthen communities locally and across the country. More information on the brand revitalization can be found on www.ymca.net. I am excited about our brand revitalization and its potential to help us better communicate the Y’s impact and help us serve more people in our community.
I look forward to seeing you at “the Y!”
Thursday, July 22, 2010
The Y's Impact
The Y serves the community in numerous ways; however, to help members and the public better understand our impact the Y will communicate our impact in three focus areas: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Here are examples of just a few of the many programs offered by our Y.
Youth Development
Members and participants have long enjoyed YMCA youth development programs that are designed to nurture the potential of children and teens. These programs and their visibility will be enhanced by this new focus, enabling the Y to have an even greater impact in our community.
The Y is particularly adept at using youth development programs as tools to change the lives of youth and teens for the better. Just think about the youth sports programs offered by our Y like: basketball, baseball, t-ball, flag football, volleyball, track and field, and swim teams, and you can see how we teach skills and values that help mold youth and teens into caring and responsible adults. Or, think about the aquatics, health and well-being and leadership development programs we offer at the Artisan at Rush Creek Apartments and the Rush Creek Apartments and you will understand the impact the Y is having with the youth, teens and families in these moderate-income apartment communities. Or, consider the lives that are changed through the participation of children and families in our before- and afterschool, summer camp, KidZone, Father/Child and teen programs!
Healthy Living
YMCA Activate America®, the Y’s response to America’s health crisis, focuses the Y’s effort to improve health and well-being and change lives for the better in local communities across America. We are working to address the needs of health seekers, individuals who may need additional support to start and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Amidst our current health crisis with childhood obesity, overweight and diabetes, the Y is a beacon of hope in our community. We are working with children, parents, educators and healthcare professionals to address this crisis locally and nationally. Each year hundreds of children and their families locally, and thousands nationally, participate in YMCA Health Kids Day®, the Y’s effort to promote healthy living and good nutrition.
Promoting healthy living requires more than just providing health and well-being programs, facilities and equipment. While these tools are important components of what we do, the uniqueness of the Y is our people—the members, volunteers and staff who are the YMCA—and the impact they make on individual lives. The Y provides a sense of community, or connectedness, which allows members to form friendships and fellowship with other members, staff and volunteers who share common goals and values.
Y programs that support healthy living include: group exercise, cycle, and nutrition classes, personal training, water activities, Father/Child programs, Community Prayer Breakfast, lunch ‘n learns, community gardens, and group fieldtrips, just to name a few.
Social Responsibility
Another important focus of the Y is social responsibility, our desire to motivate people to support their neighbors and the larger community. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the work we do through collaboration with others in our community. Collaboration helps leverage limited resources and creates synergy to address community problems. Our Y is proud to be involved in a number of collaborations, including:
· The YMCA Activates After School – This United Way FitFuture® program is offered at five elementary schools in Arlington and Mansfield. The project, which is designed to combat childhood obesity serves 175 youth in our afterschool program and includes physical activity and nutrition. A number of the students have gotten to grow their own vegetables in community gardens at their schools. Collaborators include: United Way of Tarrant County, AgriLIFE Extension, Methodist Hospital of Dallas, Texas Health Resources, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, Texas Health Resources, Tarrant County Public Health and the Arlington Public Library.
· Our Community, Our Kids – I have the privilege of chairing the Policy Committee of Our Community, Our Kids, a newly formed collaboration that will address gangs and youth violence in Arlington, Mansfield and southeast Tarrant County. The financial and societal impacts of gangs and youth violence are staggering. The collaboration seeks to: reduce gang involvement and youth violence, develop a continuum of services for area youth, increase communication and civic engagement, improve student achievement, and prepare youth for careers after high school. Our partners include: the City of Arlington, Arlington Independent School District, the City of Mansfield, Mansfield Independent School District, Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Tarrant County Commissioner, Arlington Police Department, Arlington Parks and Recreation Department, Arlington Public Library, Arlington Alliance for Youth, Boys and Girls Club of Arlington, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Tarrant County Juvenile Services, and The University of Texas at Arlington.
· Community Prayer Breakfast – The annual Community Prayer Breakfast brings together over 150 clergy, community leaders and Y members for prayer, inspiration and music to reinforce our faith, and to support youth, adults and families in our community.
· The Miracle League – The Miracle League, offered in partnership with the Miracle League of DFW and the City of Arlington, provides a baseball program for children with developmental disabilities where every child plays every inning and every game ends in a tie. Players are assigned volunteer buddies who help them bat and traverse the bases. Parents and children alike enjoy fun, fellowship and physical activity in the out of doors.
· Special Friends – This program offers activities for special needs adults four afternoons each week, providing fun, fellowship and exercise for them and a respite for their caregivers. Members, volunteers and staff make our “Special Friends” welcome at the Y.
· 21st Century Learning Centers – Y staff members collaborate with the Arlington Independent School District on 21st Century Learning Grants at five schools, to provide sports, recreation and leadership development programs to over 500 teens.
Volunteerism and giving is another important facet of social responsibility. Each year hundreds of Y volunteers serve untold hours on Y boards and committees and help in fundraising efforts designed to make a difference in the lives of youth, adults and families in our community. Examples of volunteering and giving include:
· Strong Kids Campaign – Volunteers help raise over $400,000 annually to provide financial assistance to ensure everyone in our community has access to Y programs and services.
· Boards and Committees – Volunteer leaders from throughout the community serve on the Corporate Board, Branch Advisory Boards and numerous committees, and help to raise funds and provide insights into community needs. Volunteers on the Corporate Board also set policy and employ and supervise yours truly, the President/CEO.
· Taste of Arlington – Volunteers and staff from the Y partner with Theatre Arlington to raise funds to help support youth programs of both organizations. Participants enjoy fellowship, learn about the Y and Theatre Arlington, enjoy music and other entertainment, and get to sample food and beverages from some of the finest area restaurants.
Next time I'll discuss what an exciting time this is for "the Y!"
Youth Development
Members and participants have long enjoyed YMCA youth development programs that are designed to nurture the potential of children and teens. These programs and their visibility will be enhanced by this new focus, enabling the Y to have an even greater impact in our community.
The Y is particularly adept at using youth development programs as tools to change the lives of youth and teens for the better. Just think about the youth sports programs offered by our Y like: basketball, baseball, t-ball, flag football, volleyball, track and field, and swim teams, and you can see how we teach skills and values that help mold youth and teens into caring and responsible adults. Or, think about the aquatics, health and well-being and leadership development programs we offer at the Artisan at Rush Creek Apartments and the Rush Creek Apartments and you will understand the impact the Y is having with the youth, teens and families in these moderate-income apartment communities. Or, consider the lives that are changed through the participation of children and families in our before- and afterschool, summer camp, KidZone, Father/Child and teen programs!
Healthy Living
YMCA Activate America®, the Y’s response to America’s health crisis, focuses the Y’s effort to improve health and well-being and change lives for the better in local communities across America. We are working to address the needs of health seekers, individuals who may need additional support to start and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Amidst our current health crisis with childhood obesity, overweight and diabetes, the Y is a beacon of hope in our community. We are working with children, parents, educators and healthcare professionals to address this crisis locally and nationally. Each year hundreds of children and their families locally, and thousands nationally, participate in YMCA Health Kids Day®, the Y’s effort to promote healthy living and good nutrition.
Promoting healthy living requires more than just providing health and well-being programs, facilities and equipment. While these tools are important components of what we do, the uniqueness of the Y is our people—the members, volunteers and staff who are the YMCA—and the impact they make on individual lives. The Y provides a sense of community, or connectedness, which allows members to form friendships and fellowship with other members, staff and volunteers who share common goals and values.
Y programs that support healthy living include: group exercise, cycle, and nutrition classes, personal training, water activities, Father/Child programs, Community Prayer Breakfast, lunch ‘n learns, community gardens, and group fieldtrips, just to name a few.
Social Responsibility
Another important focus of the Y is social responsibility, our desire to motivate people to support their neighbors and the larger community. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the work we do through collaboration with others in our community. Collaboration helps leverage limited resources and creates synergy to address community problems. Our Y is proud to be involved in a number of collaborations, including:
· The YMCA Activates After School – This United Way FitFuture® program is offered at five elementary schools in Arlington and Mansfield. The project, which is designed to combat childhood obesity serves 175 youth in our afterschool program and includes physical activity and nutrition. A number of the students have gotten to grow their own vegetables in community gardens at their schools. Collaborators include: United Way of Tarrant County, AgriLIFE Extension, Methodist Hospital of Dallas, Texas Health Resources, Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, Texas Health Resources, Tarrant County Public Health and the Arlington Public Library.
· Our Community, Our Kids – I have the privilege of chairing the Policy Committee of Our Community, Our Kids, a newly formed collaboration that will address gangs and youth violence in Arlington, Mansfield and southeast Tarrant County. The financial and societal impacts of gangs and youth violence are staggering. The collaboration seeks to: reduce gang involvement and youth violence, develop a continuum of services for area youth, increase communication and civic engagement, improve student achievement, and prepare youth for careers after high school. Our partners include: the City of Arlington, Arlington Independent School District, the City of Mansfield, Mansfield Independent School District, Arlington Chamber of Commerce, Tarrant County Commissioner, Arlington Police Department, Arlington Parks and Recreation Department, Arlington Public Library, Arlington Alliance for Youth, Boys and Girls Club of Arlington, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Tarrant County Juvenile Services, and The University of Texas at Arlington.
· Community Prayer Breakfast – The annual Community Prayer Breakfast brings together over 150 clergy, community leaders and Y members for prayer, inspiration and music to reinforce our faith, and to support youth, adults and families in our community.
· The Miracle League – The Miracle League, offered in partnership with the Miracle League of DFW and the City of Arlington, provides a baseball program for children with developmental disabilities where every child plays every inning and every game ends in a tie. Players are assigned volunteer buddies who help them bat and traverse the bases. Parents and children alike enjoy fun, fellowship and physical activity in the out of doors.
· Special Friends – This program offers activities for special needs adults four afternoons each week, providing fun, fellowship and exercise for them and a respite for their caregivers. Members, volunteers and staff make our “Special Friends” welcome at the Y.
· 21st Century Learning Centers – Y staff members collaborate with the Arlington Independent School District on 21st Century Learning Grants at five schools, to provide sports, recreation and leadership development programs to over 500 teens.
Volunteerism and giving is another important facet of social responsibility. Each year hundreds of Y volunteers serve untold hours on Y boards and committees and help in fundraising efforts designed to make a difference in the lives of youth, adults and families in our community. Examples of volunteering and giving include:
· Strong Kids Campaign – Volunteers help raise over $400,000 annually to provide financial assistance to ensure everyone in our community has access to Y programs and services.
· Boards and Committees – Volunteer leaders from throughout the community serve on the Corporate Board, Branch Advisory Boards and numerous committees, and help to raise funds and provide insights into community needs. Volunteers on the Corporate Board also set policy and employ and supervise yours truly, the President/CEO.
· Taste of Arlington – Volunteers and staff from the Y partner with Theatre Arlington to raise funds to help support youth programs of both organizations. Participants enjoy fellowship, learn about the Y and Theatre Arlington, enjoy music and other entertainment, and get to sample food and beverages from some of the finest area restaurants.
Next time I'll discuss what an exciting time this is for "the Y!"
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
About the Y's Brand Strategy
Recently, we unveiled a brand revitalization strategy to reinforce that the Y is a cause-driven organization, which focuses on three main areas: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Y is worthy of support, however, many do not realize that the Y is a charity that supports and strengthens communities. Many see the Y in terms of the facilities and programs that they use, or in terms of “gym and swim.” But, the Y is much more than that. The brand revitalization, which includes a bold new logo and reference to “the Y,” will help us tell our story in a fresh, new way and “change public and stakeholder understanding of the power of the Y’s work in order to serve more people.”
For the first time in 43 years, the Y is unveiling a new brand strategy to increase understanding of the impact our organization makes in the community, so that more people take advantage of the YMCA’s unique capacity to foster lasting personal and social change.
The Y is about changing lives for the better. We view participation in our programs and services as a means to a greater end. Through our rebranding effort we want to help our communities learn more about our work so we can help our communities learn and grow.
By simplifying how we describe our programs, we hope it will be apparent that everything we do is designed to nurture the potential of children and teens (Youth Development), improve health and well-being (Healthy Living) and motivate people to support their neighbors and the larger community (Social Responsibility).
The new brand strategy—the result of more than two years of analysis and input from Y leaders across the country—is designed to help us tell the Y’s story and reach more people. There are several components to our strategy, among them an updated logo, a refreshed framework and new nomenclature. What remains unchanged is our mission: to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
· Updated logo – Our updated, forward-looking logo reflects the vibrancy, diversity and heritage of our organization. The updated logo retains the triangle (symbolizing spirit, mind and body—foundational elements of the Y), and for the first time in 43 years, our logo requires “YMCA” to be present in all treatments, creating a stronger connection between our name and visual identity. This was not the case with the previous logo.
· Refreshed framework – With a focus on the three specific areas of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y is changing how we talk about ourselves so that people better understand the benefits of engaging with us.
· New nomenclature – When speaking about the Movement in the United States, we will refer to ourselves as “the Y” to align with how people most commonly refer to our organization. Individual Ys are required to use YMCA as a part of their formal association or branch name. We will continue to use Young Men’s Christian Association in legal and constitutional materials.
More next time on the Y's impact!
For the first time in 43 years, the Y is unveiling a new brand strategy to increase understanding of the impact our organization makes in the community, so that more people take advantage of the YMCA’s unique capacity to foster lasting personal and social change.
The Y is about changing lives for the better. We view participation in our programs and services as a means to a greater end. Through our rebranding effort we want to help our communities learn more about our work so we can help our communities learn and grow.
By simplifying how we describe our programs, we hope it will be apparent that everything we do is designed to nurture the potential of children and teens (Youth Development), improve health and well-being (Healthy Living) and motivate people to support their neighbors and the larger community (Social Responsibility).
The new brand strategy—the result of more than two years of analysis and input from Y leaders across the country—is designed to help us tell the Y’s story and reach more people. There are several components to our strategy, among them an updated logo, a refreshed framework and new nomenclature. What remains unchanged is our mission: to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
· Updated logo – Our updated, forward-looking logo reflects the vibrancy, diversity and heritage of our organization. The updated logo retains the triangle (symbolizing spirit, mind and body—foundational elements of the Y), and for the first time in 43 years, our logo requires “YMCA” to be present in all treatments, creating a stronger connection between our name and visual identity. This was not the case with the previous logo.
· Refreshed framework – With a focus on the three specific areas of youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y is changing how we talk about ourselves so that people better understand the benefits of engaging with us.
· New nomenclature – When speaking about the Movement in the United States, we will refer to ourselves as “the Y” to align with how people most commonly refer to our organization. Individual Ys are required to use YMCA as a part of their formal association or branch name. We will continue to use Young Men’s Christian Association in legal and constitutional materials.
More next time on the Y's impact!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
What Impact Does the Y Make?
What is the YMCA? What does the Y do? More importantly, what impact does “the Y” make? These are questions that I have asked myself over my 34-year YMCA career. And, often I have pondered how others—colleagues, volunteers, donors, and the public—would answer them. The problem is our organization is so vast and does so many things that it is hard to grasp what we do, why we do what we do, or more importantly, “the impact the Y makes.” Oftentimes people view us from their experience with the programs or facilities that they use when they come to the Y. However, the Y is much more than that. In short…we are a cause-driven charitable organization, a community of people dedicated to changing lives for the better.
Ever since I joined the Y as a young program director, back in 1974, I have been committed to helping people. Back then we said, “We’re in the people business.” More recently, our tagline has been, “We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities.” While taglines and slogans are catchy they do not tell the whole story. The Y changes lives for the better! I see my Y work as more than a job. I feel it is a calling. Working for the Y allows me to earn a living, while witnessing my faith and serving youth, adults and families in our community. I get to work with volunteers, staff and donors and collaborate with others to change lives for the better.
The Y’s recently announced brand revitalization will aid the public’s perception of the Y as a cause-driven organization and help us serve more people in our community. Next time I’ll discuss the Y’s recently announced brand revitalization strategy.
I look forward to seeing you at “the Y!”
Ever since I joined the Y as a young program director, back in 1974, I have been committed to helping people. Back then we said, “We’re in the people business.” More recently, our tagline has been, “We build strong kids, strong families, strong communities.” While taglines and slogans are catchy they do not tell the whole story. The Y changes lives for the better! I see my Y work as more than a job. I feel it is a calling. Working for the Y allows me to earn a living, while witnessing my faith and serving youth, adults and families in our community. I get to work with volunteers, staff and donors and collaborate with others to change lives for the better.
The Y’s recently announced brand revitalization will aid the public’s perception of the Y as a cause-driven organization and help us serve more people in our community. Next time I’ll discuss the Y’s recently announced brand revitalization strategy.
I look forward to seeing you at “the Y!”
Friday, November 20, 2009
Robert L. Terrell: Coach and Role Model
I first met Robert Lewis Terrell in the fall of 1963. Mr. Terrell was a physical education teacher, an assistant football coach, and the head basketball coach at Corry Junior High School in Memphis, Tenn. Known to his friends as “Bobby,” Mr. Terrell was respected by faculty, staff and students alike. Little did I know the impact Mr. Terrell and the values I learned playing sports would have on my life.
Academics, Athletics and Adolescence
The transition from elementary to junior high was not much different 45 years ago than it is today. Many students felt anxiety moving from an environment where their classroom teacher provided instruction and guidance throughout the entire school day, to one where they experienced many changes, not the least of which included a new school, changing classes, puberty, and peer pressure to smoke, use drugs, drink alcohol, engage in sexual activity or join a gang.
I’ve always been athletic and above average size. I wore men’s size 12 shoes, stood 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 170 pounds when I entered seventh grade. While I loved playing basketball and wanted to go out for the school team, I was wooed to join the football team. However, after just one day of practice I went to the coach and informed him that football was not for me. I left the team but not without pressure to “stick it out.” However, I made the decision that was best for me, which became my litmus test for dealing with peer pressure.
Later that fall I went out for the basketball team. I had been in love with basketball since the third grade when my school showed a filmstrip about the Harlem Globetrotters. I was amazed and enthralled with the ball-handling skills and wizardry of the likes of Curly Neal and the rest of the team.
The one thing that was a constant for me was the values that my family had instilled in me from a very young age. My parents showed me love and ensured that my brothers, sister and I went to church regularly. I was a high achiever and had been placed in the top classes throughout my six years at Dunn Avenue Elementary. With my faith, family values and focus on academic achievement, tackling junior high was not difficult for me.
Making the Team
I was excited to go out for the basketball team. I credit Mr. Terrell’s discipline and physical regimen for getting me into shape for the team and helping me slim down from a “husky” 13-year-old to become a budding athlete. Looking back, going out for the team involved more conditioning and endurance than actually playing basketball. I think Mr. Terrell was trying to gauge which ones of us had the perseverance to keep going when the going got tough. He taught us how to dribble, shoot and make lay-ups. He taught us how to keep a wide stance with one foot in front of the other and our center of gravity low when on defense. Then, one day Mr. Terrell posted the names of those who had made the team on the bulletin board. As we scrambled to see the list, I was glad to see I had made the team!
Mr. Terrell and the basketball team became my family away from home. The discipline and camaraderie I gained from playing basketball gave me the skills to be successful in school and in life, and kept my mind and body busy and away from negative influences.
Mr. Terrell was firm but caring. Unlike another more famous coach, also named “Bobby,” Mr. Terrell never threw chairs or tirades. He had high expectations for us on and off the court. We worked hard, sometimes holding two-a-day practices in the summer. We even practiced on Thanksgiving morning.
Mr. Terrell’s diligence paid off in many ways and by my ninth grade year our team was a basketball powerhouse. We beat every team we played. I remember going to the citywide junior high tournament in my final year at Corry. The team we met, Porter Junior High School, had an identical 29-0 division record. We were both undefeated and everyone knew it was going to be a tremendous contest! The game was hard fought and went down to the buzzer. You could feel the tension in the air as an opposing player sank the winning jump shot just as the final second ticked off the clock. Our hearts sank like lead balloons. My teammates and I cried as our opponents jumped in joy as they hoisted their first-place trophy. We had worked so hard and achieved so much, however, that night we had to settle for second place.
We wondered about the integrity of the officials and the fairness of the final call. Had the time expired before their player hoisted that final shot? We were undefeated. How could the last game of the final year at our beloved school be marred with a defeat? Regardless of what he might have thought, Mr. Terrell took the high road, congratulated the coach of the opposing team and told us to hold our heads high as we had nothing for which to be ashamed. His demeanor made a profound impact on me and I learned a valuable lesson on sportsmanship and how to lose with dignity.
Role Model
Mr. Terrell was more than a teacher and basketball coach; he was a role model. With the same esteem I had for my father, I admired Mr. Terrell and wanted to be like him. He influenced me in many ways. When I was promoted from the ninth grade, I was named salutatorian of my class and received the award for “Academic Excellence for an Athlete.” The skills I developed under Mr. Terrell’s guidance prepared me to make my high school’s varsity basketball team in my sophomore year. The discipline, teamwork and leadership skills I learned under his guidance prepared me to excel, becoming a member of the National Honor Society, President of the Student Council and President of my Hi-Y Club!
In 2003, upon receiving my Ph.D., I looked up Mr. Terrell’s number in the phone book. Since it had been 37 years since I had seen or spoken with him, when I called him I said, “I don’t know if you remember me. This is Willie Dean. I’m a former student and player on your basketball team at Corry Junior High School…” Before I could finish, Mr. Terrell said, “Of course I remember you Willie! You and your teammates were a special bunch!” After I told him about my life and accomplishments since junior high, he said, “I always knew you would do well!” What validation; the man who had made such an impression on my life was telling me that I had made an impression on his!
A few years later in 2006, I got a call from Mr. Terrell asking me to speak at his retirement dinner in Memphis. I told him I was honored and looked forward to the occasion. My Dad and I went to the dinner together. This was fitting to have perhaps the two most influential men in my life in a room together.
Mr. Terrell passed away in March 2008. His wife, Katherine, phoned to tell me the somber news. She said that he always held me in high regard and often praised my accomplishments. Mr. Terrell had retired as Principal of Cummings Elementary School. A year after his death, the street on which the school is located was renamed “Robert L. Terrell Boulevard.”
YMCA Youth Sports
The values I developed under Mr. Terrell are similar to the values we teach in YMCA sports today. I didn’t know four decades ago that Mr. Terrell’s guidance on and off the basketball court would help shape and mold me to become the man that I am today.
Each year over 14,000 youth in the Arlington and Mansfield communities play sports through our YMCA. They learn the fundamentals of basketball, flag football, track, volleyball, baseball, and t-ball, etc. However, more importantly, they learn values like caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and faith. They learn how to lead and how to follow. They learn how to give and take, and how to get along with others.
Through the caring leadership of dedicated volunteer coaches, thousands of youth develop healthy lifestyles and learn how to transition from adolescence into adulthood. We believe that youth participation in YMCA Youth Sports helps combat childhood obesity. It also prepares youth to make wise decisions and to resist peer pressure to smoke, use drugs, drink alcohol, engage in sexual activity or join a gang. We view sports as tools that help us work with youth to instill values, develop leadership skills and improve their health and well-being.
I thank God for caring and supportive adults like Mr. Terrell! I pray that the thousands of youth in our sports programs will receive the same guidance from caring adults in their lives!
Academics, Athletics and Adolescence
The transition from elementary to junior high was not much different 45 years ago than it is today. Many students felt anxiety moving from an environment where their classroom teacher provided instruction and guidance throughout the entire school day, to one where they experienced many changes, not the least of which included a new school, changing classes, puberty, and peer pressure to smoke, use drugs, drink alcohol, engage in sexual activity or join a gang.
I’ve always been athletic and above average size. I wore men’s size 12 shoes, stood 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 170 pounds when I entered seventh grade. While I loved playing basketball and wanted to go out for the school team, I was wooed to join the football team. However, after just one day of practice I went to the coach and informed him that football was not for me. I left the team but not without pressure to “stick it out.” However, I made the decision that was best for me, which became my litmus test for dealing with peer pressure.
Later that fall I went out for the basketball team. I had been in love with basketball since the third grade when my school showed a filmstrip about the Harlem Globetrotters. I was amazed and enthralled with the ball-handling skills and wizardry of the likes of Curly Neal and the rest of the team.
The one thing that was a constant for me was the values that my family had instilled in me from a very young age. My parents showed me love and ensured that my brothers, sister and I went to church regularly. I was a high achiever and had been placed in the top classes throughout my six years at Dunn Avenue Elementary. With my faith, family values and focus on academic achievement, tackling junior high was not difficult for me.
Making the Team
I was excited to go out for the basketball team. I credit Mr. Terrell’s discipline and physical regimen for getting me into shape for the team and helping me slim down from a “husky” 13-year-old to become a budding athlete. Looking back, going out for the team involved more conditioning and endurance than actually playing basketball. I think Mr. Terrell was trying to gauge which ones of us had the perseverance to keep going when the going got tough. He taught us how to dribble, shoot and make lay-ups. He taught us how to keep a wide stance with one foot in front of the other and our center of gravity low when on defense. Then, one day Mr. Terrell posted the names of those who had made the team on the bulletin board. As we scrambled to see the list, I was glad to see I had made the team!
Mr. Terrell and the basketball team became my family away from home. The discipline and camaraderie I gained from playing basketball gave me the skills to be successful in school and in life, and kept my mind and body busy and away from negative influences.
Mr. Terrell was firm but caring. Unlike another more famous coach, also named “Bobby,” Mr. Terrell never threw chairs or tirades. He had high expectations for us on and off the court. We worked hard, sometimes holding two-a-day practices in the summer. We even practiced on Thanksgiving morning.
Mr. Terrell’s diligence paid off in many ways and by my ninth grade year our team was a basketball powerhouse. We beat every team we played. I remember going to the citywide junior high tournament in my final year at Corry. The team we met, Porter Junior High School, had an identical 29-0 division record. We were both undefeated and everyone knew it was going to be a tremendous contest! The game was hard fought and went down to the buzzer. You could feel the tension in the air as an opposing player sank the winning jump shot just as the final second ticked off the clock. Our hearts sank like lead balloons. My teammates and I cried as our opponents jumped in joy as they hoisted their first-place trophy. We had worked so hard and achieved so much, however, that night we had to settle for second place.
We wondered about the integrity of the officials and the fairness of the final call. Had the time expired before their player hoisted that final shot? We were undefeated. How could the last game of the final year at our beloved school be marred with a defeat? Regardless of what he might have thought, Mr. Terrell took the high road, congratulated the coach of the opposing team and told us to hold our heads high as we had nothing for which to be ashamed. His demeanor made a profound impact on me and I learned a valuable lesson on sportsmanship and how to lose with dignity.
Role Model
Mr. Terrell was more than a teacher and basketball coach; he was a role model. With the same esteem I had for my father, I admired Mr. Terrell and wanted to be like him. He influenced me in many ways. When I was promoted from the ninth grade, I was named salutatorian of my class and received the award for “Academic Excellence for an Athlete.” The skills I developed under Mr. Terrell’s guidance prepared me to make my high school’s varsity basketball team in my sophomore year. The discipline, teamwork and leadership skills I learned under his guidance prepared me to excel, becoming a member of the National Honor Society, President of the Student Council and President of my Hi-Y Club!
In 2003, upon receiving my Ph.D., I looked up Mr. Terrell’s number in the phone book. Since it had been 37 years since I had seen or spoken with him, when I called him I said, “I don’t know if you remember me. This is Willie Dean. I’m a former student and player on your basketball team at Corry Junior High School…” Before I could finish, Mr. Terrell said, “Of course I remember you Willie! You and your teammates were a special bunch!” After I told him about my life and accomplishments since junior high, he said, “I always knew you would do well!” What validation; the man who had made such an impression on my life was telling me that I had made an impression on his!
A few years later in 2006, I got a call from Mr. Terrell asking me to speak at his retirement dinner in Memphis. I told him I was honored and looked forward to the occasion. My Dad and I went to the dinner together. This was fitting to have perhaps the two most influential men in my life in a room together.
Mr. Terrell passed away in March 2008. His wife, Katherine, phoned to tell me the somber news. She said that he always held me in high regard and often praised my accomplishments. Mr. Terrell had retired as Principal of Cummings Elementary School. A year after his death, the street on which the school is located was renamed “Robert L. Terrell Boulevard.”
YMCA Youth Sports
The values I developed under Mr. Terrell are similar to the values we teach in YMCA sports today. I didn’t know four decades ago that Mr. Terrell’s guidance on and off the basketball court would help shape and mold me to become the man that I am today.
Each year over 14,000 youth in the Arlington and Mansfield communities play sports through our YMCA. They learn the fundamentals of basketball, flag football, track, volleyball, baseball, and t-ball, etc. However, more importantly, they learn values like caring, honesty, respect, responsibility, and faith. They learn how to lead and how to follow. They learn how to give and take, and how to get along with others.
Through the caring leadership of dedicated volunteer coaches, thousands of youth develop healthy lifestyles and learn how to transition from adolescence into adulthood. We believe that youth participation in YMCA Youth Sports helps combat childhood obesity. It also prepares youth to make wise decisions and to resist peer pressure to smoke, use drugs, drink alcohol, engage in sexual activity or join a gang. We view sports as tools that help us work with youth to instill values, develop leadership skills and improve their health and well-being.
I thank God for caring and supportive adults like Mr. Terrell! I pray that the thousands of youth in our sports programs will receive the same guidance from caring adults in their lives!
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